If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

To me a field background is a background where the dog was used for retrieving. It could be hunting, trials, or test. Just something in the field.

Chesaka what is your point?

Not all Chesapeake breeders care if the dog retrieves or has a good temperament. Some just care about their coat and bone structure.

As a pretty dedicated retriever guy who happens to run Goldens I am asked for advise all the time in my area to help with this or that retriever. The point I took from ntzlblk719 not Chescaka post, was what I tell people all the time, that being the odds would be pretty good for you to get at least an average hunting dog that could do journeyman work with any old Lab you pick up out of the paper. That isn't true with Goldens. With Goldens you could easilly end up with a very nice looking, well mannered, people oriented dog that won't hunt.

Obviuosly there are exceptions to the rule, our first street bred Golden was a wonderfull hunting dog and got us in the game, but the disparity between the show or field bred Goldens is so great, I think it would be a miracle. That's why many guys who just run hunt test see horrible Goldens who are piggish and won't touch the water. You don't see this in field trials where everybody has a well bred field Golden, Lab or Chessie. I know there is also a huge disparity between show and field Labs, but I still maintain the average street bred Lab stands a fine chance of being a serviceable retriever. The last dual champion Golden was nearly forty years ago, where it is a pretty routine thing with Chessies. I guess the point is that being a good field Chessie doesn't automatically disqualify you from the show ring as it does for Labs and Goldens.

And as far as trainability, I obtained mine from a breeder known better for producing show dogs than gun dogs, but my instincts and previous experience with Chessie's was right: Pretty much every Chessie is going to hunt. You may get that with a show bred lab or golden, but you most certainly willget it with a show bred Chessie.

Many years ago a customer bought a ch x ch chessie because he said that the owners said they hunted them. (which can often mean that owners take their dogs hunting and not that the dogs actually are good at it) Anyway the dog had 0 prey drive. He might as well have bought a goat.
either He and I were the most unlucky people in the world or there are a few more like that out there. I would imagine you can find a dud in all the breeds.
Pete

Many years ago a customer bought a ch x ch chessie because he said that the owners said they hunted them. (which can often mean that owners take their dogs hunting and not that the dogs actually are good at it) Anyway the dog had 0 prey drive. He might as well have bought a goat.
either He and I were the most unlucky people in the world or there are a few more like that out there. I would imagine you can find a dud in all the breeds.
Pete

There are duds in all breeds, even Chessies. Worst dog I ever hunted over was a chessie owned by a guide we used on the Eastern Shore in MD. I had a young dog with a NAHRA WR title. Guide said I coudn't bring him because he had his dog and didn't want things to be messed up with untrained dogs. Fair enough. However, his dog was awful. If it did make a retrieve, the guide had to run out of the blind to get the bird at the shore before it ate it. It could not do rudimentary blinds, so the guide was firing up the boat to pick up birds the dog couldn't get. The only time any canvasbacks came in they flared away because the guide was either out in the boat or on the shore yelling at his dog. Can't imagine that guy is still in business with that animal.

Not knocking Chessies, but the statement that they are all naturally good hunting dogs is just silly.

As a pretty dedicated retriever guy who happens to run Goldens I am asked for advise all the time in my area to help with this or that retriever. The point I took from ntzlblk719 not Chescaka post, was what I tell people all the time, that being the odds would be pretty good for you to get at least an average hunting dog that could do journeyman work with any old Lab you pick up out of the paper. That isn't true with Goldens. With Goldens you could easilly end up with a very nice looking, well mannered, people oriented dog that won't hunt.

Obviuosly there are exceptions to the rule, our first street bred Golden was a wonderfull hunting dog and got us in the game, but the disparity between the show or field bred Goldens is so great, I think it would be a miracle. That's why many guys who just run hunt test see horrible Goldens who are piggish and won't touch the water. You don't see this in field trials where everybody has a well bred field Golden, Lab or Chessie. I know there is also a huge disparity between show and field Labs, but I still maintain the average street bred Lab stands a fine chance of being a serviceable retriever. The last dual champion Golden was nearly forty years ago, where it is a pretty routine thing with Chessies. I guess the point is that being a good field Chessie doesn't automatically disqualify you from the show ring as it does for Labs and Goldens.

John

Excellent point, John. What do you think the hunter thinks to himself when he goes to a hunt test to check out the stuff that's available and takes a look at the goldens? I think here in my area may be worse than other places.

The fact that you don't see this in Chessies is one of the reasons that I really like them. There is only one Chessie that I have seen that looked less than workable but I really fault the owner/trainer, not a problem with a split in the breed. I hope that the Chessie people can prevent this kind of problem.

"I love the rod and gun and where they take me."

"Do not judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins."

Anyone can take the easy way out when someone says that black lab look good. No one knows who you are talking about and there are do many not many will notice. But when some compliments a Chessie you know exactly what dog their are talking about.

John I have had people ask me to recommend a golden to them. I just tell them try to get one with reddish color.

Originally Posted by John Robinson

As a pretty dedicated retriever guy who happens to run Goldens I am asked for advise all the time in my area to help with this or that retriever. The point I took from ntzlblk719 not Chescaka post, was what I tell people all the time, that being the odds would be pretty good for you to get at least an average hunting dog that could do journeyman work with any old Lab you pick up out of the paper. That isn't true with Goldens. With Goldens you could easilly end up with a very nice looking, well mannered, people oriented dog that won't hunt.

Obviuosly there are exceptions to the rule, our first street bred Golden was a wonderfull hunting dog and got us in the game, but the disparity between the show or field bred Goldens is so great, I think it would be a miracle. That's why many guys who just run hunt test see horrible Goldens who are piggish and won't touch the water. You don't see this in field trials where everybody has a well bred field Golden, Lab or Chessie. I know there is also a huge disparity between show and field Labs, but I still maintain the average street bred Lab stands a fine chance of being a serviceable retriever. The last dual champion Golden was nearly forty years ago, where it is a pretty routine thing with Chessies. I guess the point is that being a good field Chessie doesn't automatically disqualify you from the show ring as it does for Labs and Goldens.

Anyone can take the easy way out when someone says that black lab look good. No one knows who you are talking about and there are do many not many will notice. But when some compliments a Chessie you know exactly what dog their are talking about.

That's true.
When a Lab looks good it's too common of an occurrence for it to stand out.